Isaiah 45:1-13

1 “This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
2 I will go before you and will level the mountains[a] ; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
4 For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me,
6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.
8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the LORD, have created it.
9 “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?
10 Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’
11 “This is what the LORD says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.
13 I will raise up Cyrus[b] in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the LORD Almighty.”

Isaiah 45:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 45

This chapter contains prophecies concerning Cyrus, the deliverer of the Jews from captivity; and concerning the grace, righteousness, and salvation of Christ; and the conversion of the Gentiles. An account is given of Cyrus, and of the great things God would do for him, and by him, Isa 45:1-3 and the ends for which he would do these things, for the sake of his people Israel; and that he might be known to be the only true God, who is the Maker of all things, Isa 45:4-7 an intimation is given of the Messiah, as the author of righteousness and salvation; and of the contention and murmuring of the Jews about him, Isa 45:8-10, encouragement is given to pray for and expect good things by him for the children of God, in consideration of the greatness of God as the Creator, who would raise him up in righteousness, the antitype of Cyrus, Isa 45:11-13, the conversion of the Gentiles, the confusion of idolaters, and the salvation of the Israel of God, are prophesied of, Isa 45:14-17, which are confirmed by his works and his word, what he had done and said, Isa 45:18,19, the vanity of idols is exposed, and Christ the only Saviour asserted, to whom persons in all nations are directed to look for salvation, Isa 45:20-22 when it is affirmed with an oath that all shall be subject to him; that his people shall come to him for righteousness and strength; that his enemies shall be ashamed, and the spiritual Israel of God shall be justified, and glory in him, Isa 45:23-25.

Cross References 41

  • 1. S Psalms 45:7
  • 2. S 2 Chronicles 36:22; S Isaiah 41:2
  • 3. Psalms 73:23; Isaiah 41:13; Isaiah 42:6
  • 4. Isaiah 48:14; Jeremiah 50:35; Jeremiah 51:20,24; Micah 4:13
  • 5. Exodus 23:20
  • 6. S Isaiah 40:4
  • 7. S Isaiah 13:2
  • 8. Psalms 107:16; Psalms 147:13; Jeremiah 51:30; Lamentations 2:9; Nahum 3:13
  • 9. S 2 Kings 24:13; Jeremiah 50:37; Jeremiah 51:13
  • 10. Jeremiah 41:8
  • 11. Isaiah 41:23
  • 12. S Exodus 33:12; S Isaiah 43:1
  • 13. S Isaiah 14:1; Isaiah 41:8-9
  • 14. Acts 17:23
  • 15. S Isaiah 44:8
  • 16. S Deuteronomy 32:12; S Psalms 18:31; S Isaiah 43:10
  • 17. S Psalms 18:39; Ezekiel 30:24-25
  • 18. S Psalms 113:3; Isaiah 43:5; Malachi 1:11
  • 19. S Isaiah 11:9
  • 20. ver 5,18; Isaiah 14:13-14; Isaiah 47:8,10; Zephaniah 2:15
  • 21. S Genesis 1:4; S Exodus 10:22
  • 22. S Isaiah 14:15; S Isaiah 31:2; Lamentations 3:38; Amos 3:6
  • 23. Psalms 72:6; S Psalms 133:3; Joel 3:18
  • 24. ver 24; Psalms 85:11; S Isaiah 41:2; Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 48:18; Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 61:10,11; Isaiah 62:1; Hosea 10:12; Joel 2:23; Amos 5:24; Malachi 4:2
  • 25. S Psalms 85:9; Isaiah 12:3
  • 26. S Job 12:13; S Job 15:25; S Job 27:2; 1 Corinthians 10:22
  • 27. S Job 33:13
  • 28. Psalms 22:15
  • 29. S Isaiah 29:16; Romans 9:20-21*
  • 30. S Job 9:12; Daniel 4:35
  • 31. S Isaiah 10:15
  • 32. S Isaiah 1:4
  • 33. S Psalms 149:2; S Isaiah 51:13
  • 34. S Psalms 8:6; S Isaiah 19:25
  • 35. S Genesis 1:1
  • 36. S Genesis 2:1; S Isaiah 48:13; Isaiah 42:5
  • 37. S Nehemiah 9:6; S Job 38:32
  • 38. S 2 Chronicles 36:22; S Isaiah 41:2
  • 39. S 1 Kings 8:36; S Psalms 26:12; S Isaiah 40:4
  • 40. S Ezra 1:2
  • 41. Isaiah 52:3

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
  • [b]. Hebrew "him"
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